 “Gay marriage” is an affront to the sovereignty of God.  God created Eve from Adam  Marriage is for a man and woman.  Prov 31:  “If, while her husband lives, [a woman] marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man” (Rom 7:3).  1 Cor 7:2-3.

 The claim that Jesus never condemned “gay marriage” is ludicrous.  Matt 19:4-6.  Some observations:  God created humans as male and female:  Sexuality, in all of its beauty, was created by God.  God created the opposite genders to complement one another sexually.  Jesus says that a man and a woman are to be joined together.  Jesus says that it’s God who joins man and woman as one body.

 “Gay marriage” is not the only unbiblical marriage.  Many Christians call for “traditional marriage.”  Two thoughts:  One: I’m not interested in what’s “traditional”--the concern must always be what is biblical.  Two: There is absolutely no doubt that many marriages falls far outside the scope of what God wills (Matt 19:9).

 Homosexuality was widely accepted in the Roman Empire.  Greek men were raised to be homosexual.  Many of the gods in that era were homosexual.

v 26a Homosexuals Abandoned God

 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.”  What is the “for this reason?”  Verse 25: They “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”  Paganism.  Why would Paul connect homosexuality and paganism.  Jewish texts quite closely connected homosexuality with idolatry.  People become like the gods they worship.

 “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (v 21).  Homosexuals had given up the idea of the true God.  These individuals decided not to follow the true God--they no longer had His morality and they could, therefore, do whatever they wanted.

 Because the homosexuals abandoned God, God gave them up to vile passions.  Since these pagan homosexuals abandoned God, He abandoned them.  Just what do we mean by “vile passions”?  “Vile” refers to something which is a disgrace.  Passion is not the usual Greek term for sexual lust.  The word used here, instead of referring to lust, refers to pleasure.  Thus, Paul says that the pleasure in which homosexuals engage is vile.

v 26b-27b Homosexuals Abandoned Nature

 “Even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful.”

 How is homosexuality unnatural?  God created man male and female.  “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:27).  God created the woman to be man’s companion.  The sexual union between a man and a woman also allows for procreation.  “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28).  God created sex for more than procreation, but it does serve that purpose.

 What if people are born gay?  Most of the scientific studies use seriously flawed methodology.  What if scientists can show homosexuality to be in the genes?  Paul speaks of “vile passions” -- improper pleasure -- in verse 26.  Don’t the Scriptures forbid certain heterosexual passions?  More to the point is that this passage doesn’t address homosexual attraction.  “Men committing shameless acts with men” (Rom 1:27).  Some might say, “Wait that’s not fair! People should be permitted to do whatever they want.”  God has never advocated unrestrained pleasure.  Pleasure can harden hearts and leave our souls empty.  “She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Tim 5:6).

v 27c Homosexuals Abandoned Reward

 Homosexuals received “in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” (Rom 1:27).  “Penalty” in Greek originally meant “exchange.”  This penalty was “in themselves.”  Disease is not likely intended.  Homosexuality in the modern world will be punished as well.  1 Cor 6:9.  One Greek term refers to the passive partner.  The other Greek term refers to the active partner.  Homosexuality is contrary to “sound doctrine” (1 Tim 1:10).

 Shouldn’t we be accepting of who people are?  Absolutely!  Jesus was accepting.  Women at the well, prostitute who anointed Him with oil, the woman caught in adultery, the thief on the cross.  Do you really think Jesus would keep someone from coming to Him?  Yet, sin must be abandoned.  The woman caught in adultery: “Go and sin no more.”  We must call upon people to abandon sin.